Half-Life 2: Episode One Review

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By Robert 'Apache' Howarth

Half-Life 2: Episode One - the first of a trilogy - is Valve's debut into the world of episodic content. Episodic what? Just think of them as expansion packs released every six months or so that cost around $19.95 each. At first, I wasn't sold on the idea either, but after playing a couple of them (SiN Episodes and now this) I'm warming up to the concept. They might not be full-length games, but neither are expansion packs. SiN took me around seven hours to complete and HL2: Episode One kept me busy for over five hours. It's rare for present-day first-person shooters to boast more than around twelve hours of content, so the price point is right on target. One of the attractions is the ability to purchase and download them online, but for folks without high-speed connections, boxed editions can be purchased from your local geek shops for the same price, if not less.

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Episode One begins where Half-Life 2 ends. I doubt everyone reading has actually finished Half-Life 2, so I won't spoil the cliffhanger ending. Needless to say, you survive! *Gasp* I know, it's a stretch, but Gordon Freeman is a pretty lucky dude. Alyx also avoids oblivion and together you make your way to the tower that dominates the skyline to prevent a total meltdown in City17. That's the plan, at least.

Episode One is a real upgrade from Half-Life 2 in the fact that Valve has given a lot more personality to the non-player characters--not only from a vocal perspective, but in how they move and interact with Gordon (you) and the environment. The quality of character animation went from average (in HL2) to exceptional. The game abounds with cool little details that you can't help but appreciate. From the spunky facial expressions of Alyx to the increased physics support that's present in every facet of the game, it's hard not to be impressed with what Valve has done.